QF • Jan. 2 • Russia 4, Switzerland 3 (SO) • Part II

Sounds like it was a real exciting game. Congrats to Swiss for an incredible tourney! Play like this and you might become a fixture in the medal rounds in the future. Slovakia, Czech and Finland aren't very good right now, each for their own reasons.

As an observation, it is really unfortunate that the winner of this has to play immediately tomorrow with tired legs. Especially after an OT plus shoot-out game. One would think that the quarterfinal bye is already a big enough advantage as it is for the group winners, without this additional handicap on the quarterfinal winner.

It's why you want to win your pool in the round robin, so you don't have to play that extra game. I think it's pretty fair.

To be fair.. only Canada impressed some what in this tournament and they havnt really been that good either. Based on the group stage alone atleast.

It's wide open tomorrow.

I can agree with that, especially at the start of the tournament. Their last game was probably their best so hopefully its a sign of them coming together or just the fact that they got a very important part of their team back (Jenner). Either way, this tournament is wide open and any team can beat any other team in the top 6 or 8 teams at any given moment.

It's why you want to win your pool in the round robin, so you don't have to play that extra game. I think it's pretty fair.

I wasn't at all arguing against the bye itself. Bye means that the team doesn't need to play in the quarters and that's all good and fine. However, I think it is an unnecessary additional benefit to the bye team that they get to play against s a tired team that had to play the quarters the previous night (made even worse when there is a OT and shootout). There should be a day between quarters and semis so that winners of the quarter get a rest. Just put the placement game (places 5 and 6) and two relegation games there to be played on that day and that's it.

I wasn't at all arguing against the bye itself. Bye means that the team doesn't need to play in the quarters and that's all good and fine. However, I think it is an unnecessary additional benefit to the bye team that they get to play against s a tired team that had to play the quarters the previous night (made even worse when there is a OT and shootout). There should be a day between quarters and semis so that winners of the quarter get a rest. Just put the placement game (places 5 and 6) and two relegation games there to be played on that day and that's it.

That all doesn't matter anymore anyway, as this is the final year of the 1/2 final bye. Next year everybody plays a 1/4 game.

You're just looking for an argument here. And what comparison am I making?

No not at all, just saying you are saying that they beat 4 Canadian teams, which while true, I don't find all that impressive. Make 4 Russian teams and 1 Canadian team it would be a massacre, but nothing to be proud of.

No not at all, just saying you are saying that they beat 4 Canadian teams, which while true, I don't find all that impressive. Make 4 Russian teams and 1 Canadian team it would be a massacre, but nothing to be proud of.

He's talking about the state of Russian hockey, not bragging about the result Now I could be very wrong here but I don't remember many euro teams winning that tournament in the past.

No not at all, just saying you are saying that they beat 4 Canadian teams, which while true, I don't find all that impressive. Make 4 Russian teams and 1 Canadian team it would be a massacre, but nothing to be proud of.

Canada is much deeper in terms of hockey prospects than any other country. They can put together four competitive teams and beating all of them is indeed impressive.

Russian team made many mistakes today. Their passes sometimes were just...no comment. Their pp was not good either. They were outrun by the Swiss and as the result they began to get detentions. I hope they regroup for Sweden. The chances are 50x50

Indeed, very sad. Switzerland was equal to Russia, had more shots on goal and about the same amount of great scoring-chances. Nyfeller played great, but had one weak goal (0-1). Swi showed that they're a very balanced team with good, skilled players who can skate. Mirco Müller is amazing, will surely go at latest in the 2nd round at the next draft. But also Christian Marti, Dean Kukan, Christoph Bertschy and Sven Andrighetto showed a great game.

I hope they can fill up their batteries and match up CZE on Friday. A win would be well deserved.